Rivers sharp for Chargers, Seattle rallies late

Seattle Seahawks tight end Dominique Byrd (82) is brought down by San Diego Chargers safety C.J. Wallace during the second half of their preseason NFL football game at Qualcomm Stadium, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks can only hope Tarvaris Jackson someday runs their offense as smoothly as Philip Rivers controls the San Diego Chargers.

Rivers went 5 for 6 while leading an 89-yard scoring in his only series for the Chargers, but Thomas Clayton rushed for a tiebreaking 25-yard touchdown with 3:05 left in the Seahawks' 24-17 victory over San Diego on Thursday night in both clubs' exhibition opener.

Cornell graduate Bryan Walters returned a kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter for the Chargers, while Mike Tolbert caught an 8-yard scoring pass to cap the only drive by Rivers, who was nearly flawless in his first game back after starting last season's Pro Bowl.

Jackson passed for 13 yards over two moderately successful series in his debut as Matt Hasselbeck's replacement with the Seahawks, who trailed 10-0 at halftime.